IODINATION OF SERUM PROTEINS IN VIVO: RELATIONSHIP TO IRRADIATION AND HYPERTROPHY OF THE THYROID

Abstract

SUMMARY High levels of labelled serum protein were found in rats with hypertrophied and colloid-depleted thyroids, but only after high thyroid irradiating doses of 131I. Low levels were found in rats with normal thyroids after low or high thyroid irradiating-doses of radioactive iodine. The levels in rats with hypertrophied thyroids after low thyroid-irradiating doses of 125I did not differ greatly from those in rats with normal thyroids. The mechanism of serum protein labelling is discussed and it is suggested that similar conditions may be important for the production of high levels of labelled serum protein in patients treated with radioactive iodine for functioning thyroid carcinoma.